An Asian male in his twenties allegedly attacked a University of California, San Diego (UCSD) student in a university parking lot at about 8:20 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 3, raping her, according to UCSD Police. Police said the woman reported the attack Feb. 19. “The male knocked her to the ground between two parked cars, held her down and raped her,” UCSDPD reported in a press release. “The male left after two or three minutes and was last seen running toward North Torrey Pines Road.” Although another campus rape occurred last November, police said the two were unrelated. “We have absolutely no reason to think they are linked. The suspects are different races,” UCSDPD Detective Melissa Collins said. But Collins offered several tips for women, both on campus and living in the surrounding community. “It’s a concern for everybody in the community,” Collins said. “I always tell women to be alert when they are walking. I always see girls text-messaging when they’re walking.” Collins advises women to remain vigilant — to listen to their instincts — but said there’s no reason for most women to alter their lifestyles. “We always encourage people to walk in pairs if they feel unsafe,” Collins said. UCSD has installed phones throughout the campus that call the university police. “You’ll never be put on hold,” Collins said. “Our dispatch asks you first thing, ‘Do you have an emergency?’” Collins said she encourages women to program the campus police number — which is (858) 534-4357 or 4-help on campus — into their cell phones, adding that response is quicker than 9-1-1, which calls either California Highway Patrol or San Diego Police Department. The university offers additional support, such as self-defense technique classes. “We have RAD, the Rape Aggression Defense class. It’s open to all women in the community for $10 over three evenings,” Collins said. “We’re there to help any time we can, but in those precious seconds, if people have the tools, all the better.” Police described the woman’s attacker as an Asian male with black hair, a medium build, 18 to 22 years old, 5-feet-9-inches to 6-feet tall, wearing blue jeans and a short-sleeved shirt. Women can find information about RAD by visiting www.police.ucsd.edu. The police emergency line is (858) 534-4357 (cell) or 4-HELP (4357) on campus.
